This statement can be attributed to Olivia Golden, executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).

Washington, DC, July 25, 2018—Today, Congress passed H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the 21st Century Act. This legislation will improve access to high-quality career and technical education by providing more than $1 billion in grants to support state and local CTE efforts. This CTE bill upholds a key federal accountability backstop that CLASP has advocated for and that will help ensure program quality for low-income students and students of color in CTE programs across the country—namely the ability to withhold federal funds if a state does not meet its outcome performance targets after an improvement plan.

CLASP sincerely thanks Senate HELP Committee Chairman Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Murray (D-WA) for their tireless efforts to retain meaningful accountability in the bill. We also thank House Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman Foxx (R-NC) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) for their bipartisan efforts to advance CTE legislation. When well-implemented, this law will provide opportunities for low-income students and students of color to participate and succeed in high-quality CTE programs of study and career pathways that lead to postsecondary education and careers with self- and family-sustaining wages.